A major project to restore flood-damaged drainage infrastructure and rebuild Cornwallis Road in the Hawkesbury has been completed.
Hawkesbury City Council, in partnership with NSW Public Works, led the restoration of the drainage network and levee system to strengthen protection for landowners along this low-lying and flood-prone section of the Hawkesbury River.
The $11 million project was jointly funded by the Federal and New South Wales governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Damage to the site occurred during severe flooding in March 2021, when the ageing drainage system failed. Further flooding in 2022 caused additional erosion and a riverbank breach, forming a small bay and washing away about 180 metres of Cornwallis Road.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority, Transport for NSW, NSW Public Works and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) worked alongside council and local landholders to design a resilient drainage and road restoration solution.
Despite being inundated by minor floodwaters on five occasions during construction, including during the May 2025 flood event, works progressed to completion.
The rebuild included 232 precast concrete stormwater box culverts, nearly 3,000 tonnes of concrete, about 25 kilometres of steel reinforcing bar, 15,000 tonnes of sandstone foundation boulders and 28,000 cubic metres of backfill, along with two-tonne steel floodgates. About 250 metres of Cornwallis Road was also reconstructed.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, said the project demonstrated the value of collaboration.
“This project is a great example of how we can all work together to address long-term issues for communities at risk of the impacts of severe weather,” McBain said.
“I’d like to congratulate everyone involved with this project on this incredible milestone.”
New South Wales Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison, said the NSW and Federal governments were proud to deliver the project.
“For far too long, residents have been forced to take lengthy detours, sometimes adding half an hour or more to their daily journeys,” Aitchison said.
“Completing this project restores a safer, faster and more reliable connection for Hawkesbury communities.”
New South Wales Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin, said the project would strengthen long-term resilience.
“After enduring repeated and destructive floods, the people of the Hawkesbury deserve solutions that strengthen their resilience for the long term,” Saffin said.
“Even with minor flooding occurring during construction, the teams pushed through to deliver a solution the community can rely on.”
Hawkesbury City Council Mayor, Les Sheather, said the project had been technically complex and challenging.
“Reconstructing the Cornwallis drain network and road has been made more difficult by repeated flooding over the past five years,” Sheather said.
“What has been achieved is a resilient safeguard against future flooding.”
